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Observation of a novel Babesia spp. in Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) in Australia
- Source :
- International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, Dawood, K, Morgan, J, Busfield, F, Srivastava, M, Fletcher, T, Sambono, J, Jackson, L, Venus, B, Philbey, A & Lew-Tabor, A 2013, ' Observation of a novel Babesia spp. in eastern grey kangaroos ( Macropus giganteus ) in Australia ', International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, vol. 2, pp. 54-61 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2012.12.001
- Publication Year :
- 2013
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2013.
-
Abstract
- Graphical abstract Highlights ► New Babesia is identified in kangaroo. ► The origin is unknown. ► Caused severe anaemia and death in the infected kangaroos.<br />The roles and epidemiological features of tick-borne protozoans are not well elicited in wildlife. Babesia spp. are documented in many domestic animals, including cattle, horses, pigs, dogs and cats. Three cases affecting eastern grey kangaroos are described. The kangaroos exhibited neurological signs, depression and marked anaemia, and microscopic examination of blood smears revealed intraerythrocytic piroplasms. One to seven intraerythrocytic spherical, oval, pyriform and irregularly-shaped parasites consistent with Babesia spp. were seen in the blood smears and the percentage of infected erythrocytes was estimated to be approximately 7% in each case. Data suggest that the tick vector for this kangaroo Babesia sp. is a Haemaphysalis species. For Case 2, ultrastructural examination of the erythrocytes of the renal capillaries showed parasites resembling Babesia spp. and 18 of 33 erythrocytes were infected. DNA sequencing of the amplified 18S rDNA confirmed that the observed intraerythrocytic piroplasms belong to the genus Babesia. The phylogenetic position of this new kangaroo Babesia sp. (de novo Babesia macropus), as a sister species to the new Australian woylie Babesia sp., suggests a close affinity to the described Afro–Eurasian species Babesia orientalis and Babesia occultans suggesting perhaps a common ancestor for the Babesia in kangaroos.
- Subjects :
- Veterinary medicine
Veterinary parasitology
biology
Phylogenetic tree
animal diseases
education
Babesia
Zoology
Macropus giganteus
macromolecular substances
biology.organism_classification
Haemaphysalis
Article
Apicomplexan
Infectious Diseases
Genus
parasitic diseases
Animal Science and Zoology
Parasitology
Animal culture
Kangaroo
psychological phenomena and processes
Haematology
Macropus
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 22132244
- Volume :
- 2
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....4843ebf65270d083bd4d32d585ce94ce
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2012.12.001